Last Thursday, gunmen carried out a shocking abduction in Nigeria, kidnapping over 300 school children from the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village, Kaduna state. As of now, 287 of the children are still held captive by the abductors, who have issued a chilling ultimatum and ransom demand.
According to Aminu Jibril, a resident of Kuriga village, the kidnappers contacted him and demanded a ransom of 1 billion naira (approximately $621,848). The perpetrators threatened to kill all the students if their demands were not met within three weeks from the date of the abduction, citing revenge against the government and security agencies for previous actions.
The tragic incident occurred on March 7 when armed bandits on motorcycles stormed the school, kidnapping both students and staff members. While some of the students were fortunate enough to be rescued, the majority remain in captivity, sparking fear and concern among the local community and beyond.
Kaduna state’s Governor, Uba Sani, expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of the abducted pupils and students. However, the situation remains dire, with one member of the community losing their life while attempting to confront the abductors during the attack.
Kaduna state has been plagued by recurring incidents of kidnappings for ransom by bandits, with several mass abductions occurring in recent years. The LEA Primary and Secondary School kidnapping is just one tragic example of the ongoing security challenges faced by the region.
This isn’t the first time such a horrific incident has unfolded in Kaduna. In 2021, armed men abducted at least 140 students from a private secondary school, highlighting the persistent threat of violence and insecurity in the area.
The devastating consequences of such kidnappings were tragically demonstrated when around 20 students from a private university in Kasarami village were abducted, leading to the loss of five lives after a ransom deadline was not met.
As the authorities work tirelessly to secure the release of the abducted children and address the root causes of such violence, the community remains gripped by fear and uncertainty, hoping for a swift and peaceful resolution to this harrowing ordeal.
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